Archives: Speakers

Born in Moscow. Graduated in Russian State Medical University 1991-1997 followed by 3 years of Postgraduate specialisation in Neurology.

MD degree in Neurology.

Joined Pharmaceutical industry in 2000, having 7 years different regionals roles in Sales & Marketing.

From 2007, relocation to Denmark, Nycomed HQs, different roles in R&D.

From 2010 based in Switzerland, starting in Takeda, as CNS Franchise Head, then Head of Portfolio strategy and Business excellence.

Executed 4 Global launches over the last 5 years in rare diseases, haemoonclology and CNS.

Dorte X. Gram (Danish, born 1969) is the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pila Pharma. She is XENIA PHARMA’s representative in PILA PHARMA’s Board of Directors.

Dorte X. Gram is the inventor of the principle of treating diabetes and obesity with TRPV1 antagonists – a discovery-by-surprise during her PhD studies at Novo Nordisk, Denmark. In 2008, she acquired the rights to the invention from Novo Nordisk, Denmark, had use-patents issued via her mother-company XENIA PHARMA, Denmark and, in 2014, founded PILA PHARMA in Sweden as a subsidiary.

Besides her innovative and entrepreneurial drive, Dorte X. Gram provides experience to PILA PHARMA in diabetes project management and planning including preclinical and clinical pharmacology, toxicology and regulatory affairs. She further has an extensive network in diabetes and runs PILA as a virtual company with a basic focus on target product profile, lean project management and engagement of her various professional contacts and other experts.

Dorte X Gram graduated as veterinarian (DVM) in 1996 and was awarded the PhD title in 2003. She has profound experience from the life-science industry, whereof more than 10 years were in Diabetes Research & Development at Novo Nordisk A/S, Denmark working with various project teams within the diabetes and obesity research areas with small molecules and peptides including insulin- and GLP-1- analogues. She is the author of several scientific publications with a focus on TRPV1 in diabetes or anti-diabetic agents as well as of patents related to TRPV1 in diabetes and to basal insulin analogues.

Dorte X. Gram is an expert in Pharmacology and Toxicology and previously, she has worked as Teaching and Scientific Assistant  at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark (1996-1999), PhD Student, Research Scientist and Clinical Pharmacologist at Novo Nordisk, Denmark (1999-2009), Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark (2009-2010), External lecturer of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Roskilde University, Denmark (2010-2014), as Senior Toxicologist and Business Area Manager, Dept. of Human Health and Safety, DHI, Denmark (2010-2011), Senior Consultant and CEO of XENIA PHARMA, Denmark (2011-present) and CEO of PILA PHARMA, Sweden (2014-present).

Having had a normal weight in childhood, obesity entered my life when I had my child in 1993. I gained a total of 40 kg over the next 14 years despite diet monitoring, physical exercise and obesity medication available back in time. No matter what I did I couldn’t stop putting on weight… I was almost 100 kg in 2007 and the consequences of so much weight were so clear: pain in lower back, ankles and knees, fat in my liver but even more scary – high blood sugar levels.

I was a single mother and my only concern was that my health would deteriorate so badly that I’d leave my kid an orphan. As nothing less invasive seemed to help me in losing my body weight, I decided to have bariatric surgery. Although I’m having a normal weight for the last 11 years, I still struggle every day to keep it in control.

Today I use my story to advocate for the cause of defeating Obesity together with my scientific background. I am a pharmacist contributing that better and effective drug treatment for losing weight is available to an affordable cost to all people in need of it.

The collaborative relationship between patients living with a chronic disease and pharma is a win-win situation. Patient experiences, perception and opinions are heard by the companies behind new therapeutic options that hopefully will bring more quality to patients’ life. This close dialogue helps to educate and raise the awareness of the burden caused by these diseases both on an individual and society perspective. The potential products can show exciting results in the laboratory and animals but only patients have the actual experience in their disease control. By giving the patients the opportunity of sharing their feedback from beginning of a product development the companies are able to make available better treatment options that meet patients’ expectations on a faster fashion.

Jackie has 20 years of experience in labelling and artwork management solutions, from solution development, to consulting, and account management. Her focus is on identifying process improvement opportunities, sharing best practices, and recommending technology-based solutions to support getting products to market faster, increasing quality and reducing risk.

Larry Zeifman has over four decades of experience auditing and advising public and private companies. After leaving a ‘Big Four’ firm in 1985 to join Zeifmans, Larry served as the firm’s Managing Partner and continues to serve on its management committee.

Specializing in auditing and consulting, Larry is responsible for servicing many of Zeifmans’ larger corporate clients, especially clients in the healthcare, cannabis and psychedelics sectors. Leader of Zeifmans’ Cannabis and Psychedelics Team, Larry advises his clients on a variety of domestic financial matters, as well as issues relating to the global corporate environment.

In 2020, Larry launched and hosted Zeifmans’ podcast series Micro-dosing with Zeifmans – demystifying the business of psychedelics, where he was joined by industry expert guests on a weekly basis to explore the latest data, trends and insights in the psychedelics industry.

Larry’s understanding of global business facilitates his chairmanship of Nexia Canada (the Canadian division of Nexia International, Zeifmans’ international network), and his membership on Nexia International’s marketing and business development committee.

With 25 years’ experience working in marketing and business development, Charlie has a comprehensive background in working closely with global brands to more effectively communicate with their key customers across a diverse range of platforms. His focus for the last 10 years has been managing and growing key client partnerships throughout EMEA and APAC.